Hood locking device for automobiles



Jan. 3, 1933.

J. P. GERAGHTY HOOD LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-Sheet Original FiledA June 50, 1931 (II/A h g R a O r T e me.

Jan' 311933- J. P. GERAGHTY HOOD LOCKING DEVICE` FOR AUTOMOBILES Original Filed June 50, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet y, .W n M ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES- PATENT oFFicE JOHN I. GERAGHTY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY i' noon LOCKING niivionron AnToi/ioBiLEs Original application led .Tune 30, 1931, Serial No. 543,000. Divided and thisvapplcaton filed February 9,

1932. lSerial No.591,903.

rlhis invention relates to safety mechanism for automobiles, and particularly, to animproved hood locking device which functions not only to lock the hood but to control the '5 circuits of the engine so as to prevent starting of the engine until the hood lockingV h embodying certain featuresof the invention.

mechanism has functioned;

Another object of the invention is to provide a complete structure to function as a unit wherein by the operation of a single member, the hood of an automobile may be loclred .or unlocked and the ignition or starter circuits opened and closed. u

A' further object, more specifically, is to provide an improved hood look which. is manually actuated from thek dash board of an automobile for locking and unlocking the hood, and the manually actuated means being associated with the switch means, which are thrown into functioning position and thev hood lock is moved to a loclredposition and thrown into a non-functioning position when the hood lock has been moved to an unlocked position.

This application is a divisional application of my prior application, Serial Number 548,000, led J une th, 1931.

1n the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of part of an automobile showing part of the hood and associated parts, a portion of the structure being broken away for better illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figure 1 on line 2-2.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view through the lock dial and certain other operating mechanism shown in Figure 1, part of the casing being shown in elevation. Y Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the control bolts or rods shown in Figure 3 and the saine illustrating the sliding connection between these two members. Figure 5 is a. fragmentary sectional view through Figure 3 approximately on line 55. Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of the locking catch embodying certain features of the invention.

Figure 7' is a perspective view of a lock setare adapted to lock` the hood 2 closed. This ting mechanism embodying certain features of the invention. Y

Figure 8 is a perspective viewof a clutch mechanism embodying certain features of the invention.

Figure 9 is a perspective view ofv a ring Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in section and partly in' elevation showing the hoodlocking mechanism. "j

Figure 11 is a sectional view through Figure 10 on line 114-11.

Figure 12 is a diagram showing the circuit of the various switch mechanisms as theyy appear when the parts are in running-position. i

Referring tothe accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates an automobile of any desiredkind, the same being .provided with a hood 2 of any preferred kind and with 70 an instrument board 8 also of any preferred kind. Preferably, the instrument board has a lamp 4 arrangedv thereon immediately above the dial 5 and the hand operated knob 6. A short distance in front of the instrument board 3 is a front wall 7 which may beV of any preferred structure. Carried by this front wall is a mechanism 8V which Vis associated with the diafl"5 and thumb'member 6 for accomplishing certain results including the contr-ol ofthe engine and locking of Ythe hood 2. Inlockingthe hood 2, Bowden wires 9 and 10 Vare used, said wires at one end eX- Y tending into the mechanism 8 so as to be reciprocated by'certain parts of said mecha- 85' nism as hereinafter fully described. These wires extend downwardly to convenient points where they are connected to the respective locking mechanisms 11 andv 12 which Y locking mechanism isillustrated more Vparticularly in AFigures 10 and 11. As indicated in Figure 11, the Bowden wire 10 is' provided with an enlargement 13 adapted to reciprocate in a fitting 14.V The enlargement'l has an elongated-cylindrical head l'adapted to reciprocatein the guide 16 forming part of the fitting 14. lThe fitting 14 is provided with what may be termed a notch 17 whichv is f adapted to receive the bracket 16 riveted or 100 tothe dotted otherwise rigidly secured to the hood 2. T his bracket at the lower end is provided with an arc-shaped recess 18 in which the locking hook 19 rests. A contractile spring 20acts to swing the hook 19 on its pivotal support 21 until it assumes the position shown in Figure 10. When the bracket 16V `has been moved out of notch 17 the hook 19 will swing over to the dotted position shown in Figure 10. When the Bowden wire 10 has been'pushed by the mechanism to be hereinafter fully described and shown particularly in Figure 5, the reduced portion 13 will come opposite the hook 19 and permit the hook to swing outwardly so that the portion 22 will receive reduced portion 13 thus causing the hook to be moved completely out of the notch v18.

It will be understood that the hook does not o move out of the notch 18 because of the spring 2O but as the bracket 16 is pulled upwardly it will be forced out of notch 18 so that the portion 22 will surround the reduced section 13. Whenthe reduced section 13 is opposite the portion 22, hookv 19 is free to swing and consequently the hood may `be opened and closed readily. After the bracket 16 has been moved out of the notch 17, the hook 19 swings to the dotted position shownin Figure 10 and the cam or enlargement 23 moves position shown in Figure 10 whereupon the cylindrical section 15 cannot be moved back to the position shown in Figure 11.v Thiswill prevent a longitudinal movement of the Bowden wire '10 and conse- -quently will prevent the shutting off of theengine. .However, as soon asthe hood has been closed and the bracket 16 moved to the,

position shown in Figure 10, the hook 19 will be swung over to thefull line position shown Iin Figure 10 so that the Bowden wire 10 may be moved to shift the cylindrical section 15 Vto the position shown in Figure 11 whereupon the hook 19 is locked against movement andV consequently bracket 16 is locked within the fitting lll, which fitting is rigidly secured in any desired manner to the chassis of the automobile. Y

The Bowden wires 9 and 10 are identical and function in the'same way; The locks 11 and 12 will function as just/described. Bowden wires 9 and 10 entend to a position withinthe casing where they are connected to a reciprocating plate 25. rllhis plate has a rectangular slot 26 formed with a notch 27. Notch 27 is adapted to receive the projection 23 of thedisl: or ring 29, which dish is provvided with one or more depressions 30 for receiving the respective pins 31 formed integral withthe lool; setting device 32 (Figures 3 and 7). rlhis device is connected through Aclutch 33 and .certain otherparts herein fully described to the shaft whereby whenever shaft 34 is rocked, ring- 29 will be moved correspondingly and will cause the projection 23 to raise or lower the Aplate 25 slot 13 formed in shaft 34e.

according to the direction of movement. This will raise or lower the wires 9 and 10 to lock or unlock the respective hood locking mechanisms 11 and 12. The shaft 34 rxannot be moved inwardly until after the plate 25 and associated parts have been moved to loch the locking mechanisms 11 and 12.

As shown particularly in Figure 3, the dial 5 is rotatably mounted in aplate 35 which bolted or otherwise? rigidly secured to the instrument board 3. A supporting dish 36 is screwed or otherwise rigidly secured to the dial 5 at the .bach thereof, said isk resting in asuitable aperture 37 in the instrument board 3. VThis provides an efficient .support and mounting for the dislr 36 whereby the disk cannot be removed without opening the hood 2. A tubular structure 33 is preferably formed integral with the dial 5 and carries a spring 39 pressing at one end against the shoulder 49 and at the opposite end against the thumb member or knob 6. A pin 4:2 extends through knob 6 and through a This shaft carries a pin 44; for limiting the outward movement of the shaft under the action of spring 39. ShaftY 3e is formed with a tongue Vl5 at its inner end which is theright hand-end as seen in Figure 3, said tongue end fitting into a tubular extension-L16 preferably rormed integral with the front plate t? of casing 24. rllhis casing is provided with a ring 2li" and a cap 21'v wherebyzthe parts are properly protected and supported. The plate 47 is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the wall 7 but interiorly thereof as shown in Figures' 1 and 3. rlhe tongue l5 of sha-ft 3i tits into the slot or notchlS of the shaft 34, which shaft is formed with reduced extensions 49 and 50, extension 49 .being surrounded by a spring 51 acting against the plate or .wall )referably formed integral with the ring 24', said spring also acting against the shoulder 53 for urging shaft 34f'and the parts connected therewith to the left as shown in Figure 3. Shaft 34`is provided with a longitudinally positioned slot 54 accommodating the tongue 55 which is integral withthe ring 56, said tongue being heldl in place by a spring pressed pin 57' The tongue 55 acts against the pin 33 extending from the clutch 33 for holding the clutch so that it will move with the shaft 34. Clutch 33 as shown in Figure 8 is yprovided'with'a clutch' tooth 33 and with a gear wheel 53. Gear wheel 58 is adaptedl to receive vthe pins or project-ions 59 and'GO projecting from the lock setter 32. Lock setter 32 is provided witha tubular e2:- tension 61 which carries Vpins 31 which pins are adapted to move through their respective Cil A and projection 28 for opening or closing` the hood locking mechanisms 11 and 12. As it is necessary to rotate the part-s to slide plate 25 downwardly, it will be seenthat when `this plate is in the lower position and the locks 1l and 12 unlocked, shaft 3e cannot be moved inwardly or outwardly,y and the combination lock 6st cannot be actuated, and the switch mechanism 66 cannot be actuated. ri-lie conibinatioii lock 64 is fully described in my prior pending application, S rial Number 5l8,600, and therefore, will not need further description at this point. The reduced eX- tension 56 of shaft 34 is rigidly secured to tl'ie switch 65, while the switch 66 is slidingly mounted on a stationary shaft 67. This arrangement of switch is also fully disclosed in my prior pending application, Serial Num-- ber 51l8,000, but in order to bring in the coaction thereof with the shaft Se and associated parts, this arrangement will befbrief y described.

ln order that the inner action of the shaft 34 with the switches 65 and 66 may be more fully understood, reference inode particularly to Figures 3 and 12. When the shaft 34: and associated parts have been pushed inwardly, the switches and 66 will move until the Contact springs 7e and 75 have moved off of ring TO, and the respective contact springs 78, V79, 99 and 98 have moved on to their respective rings 68 and 69. TWhen in this position current will be supplied to the starter 86 but there will be no starting of the enginevas the ignition circuit is not yet closed.l However, when the knob 6 is jreleased, it is forced out quickly by spring 39, and the switch 65 will move back to the position shown in Figure 12 whereupon currentis supplied to the ignition circuit.

When the parts are in the position just set forth, it may be stated that they are in a starting position, as current from the battery 71 will pass through wire 72, wire 7 3, contact finger ring 70, contact linger or spring 75, wire 7 6, switch 102, and the primary of the spark coil T7. This will provide current to produce the spark as soon as the engine has been vturned over. ln addition to the current flowing in this circuit, current will pass from wire T3 through the contact lingerA or v spi-ing 78, ring 68, contact spring or finger 79, wire 80, electro-magnets 81, and from thence to the ground. As these magnets are energized, they will attract the armature 82, so that the switch plate 83 will be moved against the action of the spring 83 until the switch plate engages the contacts 84 and 85. Contact 85 is connected with the ground while contact 84 is connected through wire 88 to one side of the starter 86. A wire 87 is connected to the opposite side of the starter and this wire is connected to wire 72. It will thus be seen thatwhen the parts are in position withy all of the contact lingers or springs engaging their respective contact rings, current will pass from battery 71 through the ignitionsystem and also to the starter. This -will'cause the engine to turn over and to eX- plode .in the usual way. Y y

As soon as the engine begins to function,

it will cause the generator 89 to function.V

Up' to this time, the `engine has been running oncurrent from the battery 71. As soon as i the generator beginsV to function, it will supply current through wire 96 and a device 96 which permits the current to flow in one direction but not in the opposite direction, said device being old and well known onl the market. From the wire`96 current liowsthrough the contact finger or spring 98 and from thence through ring 69, contact linger or spring 99, wire 99', electromagnet 100,andy

from thence to Ythe ground, thus complctin g a circuit for the magnet 100 whereupon the armature 100 will be swung to the left as shown in Figure 12. rThis will `cause the extension or catch 101 kto move away from the projecting plate carried by the Vswitch 66 and thereby permit theswitch 66 to moveto the left, as shown in Figure 12, until the rings 68 Vand v69 are out ofcontact with their respective'rcontact springs or lingers. thewparts are moved to the vposition just described, it will be seen that the battery 71 When iscut out and the starteris cut out, thus theV current for the ignition system will be fed from the generator 89 and any excess current will pass ina reverse direction through wire 97, contact finger 7 5, ring 70, Contact finger r4, wire 73, and wire72 to the battery; As the nring 68 isout of engagementl with'its coactingcontact fingers when in the position iust described, the electro-magnets 81 will be deprived ofcurrent, and, consequently, spring 88 will 'movethe contact` u bai83- to open the circuit of the starter. YAll the actions gusty described take place very quickly and the engine starts immediately ,upon thefswitch 65 moving to the position shown in Figure 12. Almost immediately thereafter, the switch 66k will follow suit and move to the position shown in Figure 12, thus cutting out the starter. lt will thus be seen that the action of the rod 34 and associated parts controls the various circuits of the engine, and the actuation of this rod also controls the hood locks 11 and 12 so that all these parts must coact. When the rod 34 has been turned so as to unlock the respective locks 11 and 12, it can be pushed inwardly and thennioved outwardly causing the switches 65 and 66 and associated partsV to functionv as set forth. Vln View of this it will be seen that these members coactwith and depend for their successful operation-on parts, andthe Vposition must besuch that thel locks l1 and 12 are in their locked positions when the rod 34 and associated parts are in a position to cause the switch mechanism to be actuated it( r .starting the engine.

l claim 1. A safety mechanism for automobiles including a lock for locking the hoodV of an automobile, a manually actuated means including a rockable rod locking and unlocking said lock, an ignition circuit, a starter circuit, a' switch interposed in both of said circuits, means 'actuated by said rockable rod for actuating said switch in one direction, a spring foi-moving said switch in the opposite direction, and a combination lock for locking the rod against actuation.

2. ln a safety mechanism for automobile engines, an automatically actuated switch for closing the circuit oit the starter and ignition circuits oi the engine, a combination lock controlled rod normally preventing said automatic operation, a lock for the hood of said engine, and manually actuated means controlled by said combination lock for causing said hood lock to function.

3. in a safety mechanism for automobile engines, a hood lock including Va bracket secured to the hood of the engine and provided member on the vehicle frame having a hook shaped head adapted to iit into said notch and hold said bracketv againstmovement,y a lspring acting to hold said hook shaped member in one position and manually actuated member for locking said hook shaped member en the vehicle frame so that it will lit into said notch whereby said bracket cannot be removed and said hood cannot be opened.

el. 1n 'ety mechanism for automobile engines, an automatically actuated switch for closing the circuit of the starter and ignition circuits of the engine, a combination lock controlled rod normally preventing said automatic operation, a lock for the hood of the engine including a reciprocating bolt and means controlled by said combination lock for -g said hood lock to function, said means including a reciprocating member for actuating said bolt to function and translating means for translating the rocking' action or" said rod into a reciprocating actionV communicated to said reciprocating bolt.V

5. in asafety mechanism for automobile engines, an automatically actuated switch tor closingthe circuit of the starter andV ignition ircuits of the engine, a combination lock controlled rod normally preventing saidautonatic operation, a lock for the hood of the engine including brackets secured to the hood Y of the engine, each bracket being provided with an extension having a notch therein, a' member on the vehicle frame having a hook shapedhead for each bracket adapted to iii into the i espective notches of said brackets for causin U with an extension having a notch therein, a

by said bracket cannot be removed and said hood cannot be opened.

' JOHN P. GERAGHTY. 

